Abstract: PO1367
Medicine Residents' Perception of the Nephrology Specialty
Session Information
- Educational Research
October 22, 2020 | Location: On-Demand
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 800 Educational Research
Authors
- Nakhoul, Georges, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Mehdi, Ali, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Taliercio, Jonathan J., Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Kao, Patricia F., Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
- Mcnutt, Grace, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Greenfield, Jessica, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Spencer, Abby L., Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- O'Toole, John F., Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Nally, Joseph V., Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Sedor, John R., Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Bierer, S. beth, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Background
Interest in nephrology as a specialty has been declining among residents. As a result, more than half of the programs remain unfilled. The residents’ perceptions of the nephrology field that might account for this loss of interest are unknown. We aimed to identify factors influencing residents’ views on pursuing a career in nephrology.
Methods
We used the results of our previously published qualitative analysis on residents’ perception of nephrology to inform and design a survey of 60 questions. The survey was delivered using the secure we application “REDCap to 680 residents across eight medicine residency programs in different regions nationally.
Results
184 residents (27%) responded to the survey. 56% (103) were male, 77% (142) were American graduates and 21% (42) were international graduates. Major positive perceptions of nephrology were: intellectually challenging, positively impacts patients’ lives, opportunity to obtain the job of choice with possibility to practice in an academic setting, and a good work-life balance (Fig. 1A). Those aligned well with the top factors influencing residents’ choice of specialty (Fig. 1B). The major negative perceptions included: inability to perform procedures, financial compensation, and patient population (Fig. 1A). Those aligned poorly with many of the key factors influencing residents’ choice of specialty (Fig. 1B).
Conclusion
Nephrology is well perceived in the top three categories of factors that influence residents’ specialty choices. This suggests that negative factors such as inadequate financial compensation, inability to perform procedures, lack of innovation, and a difficult patient population largely outweigh the positives. In order to attract more candidates, the nephrology community should highlight the innovations and policy initiatives such as the Kidney Precision Medicine Project, the Kidney Innovation Accelerator, and the Advancing American Kidney Health initiative. Nephrologists should also consider creating/expanding interventional nephrology programs and increasing resident exposure to outpatient nephrology.
Funding
- Private Foundation Support